Bracelet chain



Sept. 19, 1933. NELSON 1,927,044

BRACELET CHAIN Filed NOV. 13, 1931 I N VEN TOR.

W219 Z7 I/MP/ $013 WMQ Wm A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 19, 1933 PATENT OFFICE BRACELET CHAIN Nels T. Nelson, Attleboro, Mass., assignor to J. F. Sturdys Sons Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 13, 1931 Serial No. 574,698

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a bracelet chain of the open center frame link type, and has for one of its objects to provide an elastic expansion of a chain composed of such link units.

Another object of this invention is the provision of the expansion in the open center frame link itself, as distinguished from the connections between two of such frame links.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a construction which will have an elastic expansion without distorting, unduly thickening or changing the contracted appearance of the body links which have heretofore been made solid.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a bracelet which will be simple to construct and assemble and one which will be strong and durable in operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the bracelet of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the bracelet.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing two of the links in expanded position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner link of the bracelet.

'Fig. '7 is a perspective of the outer link of the bracelet. 5 It has become popular in the use of watch bracelets to use a bracelet chain having an open center to allow the circulation of air about the wrist and prevent the heating of.the wrist which is usual in bracelets which present a width of surface of metal or leather in a strap-like effect and which covers a considerable width of the arm. Such open center bracelets have customarily been made from solid links with cut-out centers to provide side and end bars with their end bars joined together by folding a sheet metal link into a band link to embrace the end bars but allow flexing of the links, and in the use of bracelets to connect the watch to the wrist, it is frequently desirable to have a bracelet snugly embrace the wrist, and I have accomplished this in a construction of this type in which I allow elastic expansion of one or more of the links of a chain and still preserve this open center framelike construction in the links; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment I also provided by which the chain may snugly of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing, 10 designates one of the link units which is connected to the next unit by a band 11 folded about the end bars of the units. Each of the units consists of two relatively slidable members in U form. I he outer member 12 is folded from sheet stock to provide tubular legs 13 spaced apart as at 14 along their inner edge, while the sheet stock is folded closely or in contiguous relation across the bar 15 with its edges abutting as at 16 to strengthen this portion of the member about which the connecting link 11 is folded.

The inner slide member 16' consists of a cross bar 1'? and legs 18 which are provided with ribs 19 lying between the edges 14 of the opening along the inner side of the tubular legs 13 to guide the members during their relative movement. Abutments 20 extend outwardly from the free ends of the legs 18 to be engaged by springs 21 in each of the tubular legs which act between these abutments andv the end walls 22 of the tubular legs to move the U members relatively with a telescoping action of the legs to contracted position and yet allow an expansion of a considerable extent.

From the above detailed description it will be apparent that an opening link construction is provided and an elastic expansion of each link is grip the wrist and hold the wrist watch or the like in desired position, and yet the link units, by being inclined on their top and bottom surfaces, present a narrow edge and provide a construction of thin appearance.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention 95 being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

, I claim:

1. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units of open center construction, means for flexibly connecting said units together, one of said units comprising two oppositely disposed U-shaped members slidably disposed with relation to each other, the legs of the U of one member being tubular and the legs of the other member slidably mounted therein.

2. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units of open center construction, means for flexibly connecting said units together, one of said units comprising two oppositely disposed U shaped other, the legs of the U of one member being tubular and the legs of the other member slidably mounted therein, and provided with abutments and springs in said tubular legs engaging said abutments to relatively move said members to contracted position.

3. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units of open center construction, means for flexibly connecting said units together, one of said units comprising two oppositely disposed U shaped members slidably disposed with relation to each other, the legs of the U of one member being tubular with a longitudinal opening extending along its length, and the legs of the other member located in said tube and provided with a rib extending into said opening for guiding the relative movement of said members.

4. A bracelet chain comprising a series of units of open center construction, means for flexibly connecting said units together, one of said units comprising two oppositely disposed U shaped members slidably disposed with relation to each other, the legs of the U of one member being tubular with a longitudinal opening extending along its length, and the legs of the other member being located in said tube and provided with a rib extending into said opening for guiding the rela- 1,927,044 .members slidably disposed with relation to each tive movement of said members, abutments at the ends of said ribbed legs oppositelydirected from said ribs and a spring in each tubular leg engaging said abutment for moving the U member to contracted position.

5. In a bracelet chain, a series of units of open center construction, each comprising opposite tubular side bars, an end bar joining said side bars at one end, and another end bar with legs extending into said side bars at the opposite end, means for resiliently contracting said end bars, connecting links embracing the end bars of adjacent links and concealing the same from view, whereby the bracelet has the appearance of being a solid construction.

6. In a bracelet chain, a series of units of open center construction, each comprising opposite tubular side bars, an end bar joining said side bars at one end, and an end bar with legs extending into said side bars at the opposite end, connecting links embracing the end bars of adjacent links and concealing the same from view, yielding means within each tubular bar to move said legs inwardly thereof, whereby the bracelet has the appearance of being a solid construction and yet is elastically expansible.

NELS T. NELSON. 

